Indicator for vehicles.



J. F. FRAZEE.-

. INDICATOR FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 19. 1915.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

.nacxson 1s. rmznn, or SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, AssIeNon oFoNEFH ALr'n-if HANS CARL NEILSEN, or sAN' FRANCISCO, cALrFonNIA,

' INDICATOR FOR vnmonns.

VTQLZZZ whomz't may concern.

hicles of the course of the vehicle to which 7 the signal is attached. a

The invention has for its objects, to provide a signal which is capable of being actuated by the vehicle operator, one which is equally as well adapted for use at night as thedsy,"eneprovided with means for.

attachment to the rear lamp bracket of the vehicle, and which contains the commonly termed red tail light, therebydispensing with the lamp now carried on the rear of all motor vehicles, and-one which issimple in construction, is capable of being manually actuated by the vehicle operator, and. is adapted to be constructed at little cost.

With the above mentioned and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being underftating means for the cylinder.

transverse sectional view taken on lin e 33 stood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims maybe resorted-to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. I

To more fullv comprehend the invention, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in elevation of an embodiment of mv inventiomdisclosing the casin and the rotating cylinder contained therein, the operating' mechanism to extend to the drivers seat and the license plate at the top of the casing. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 3, disclosing the casing, the rotating cylinder therein, the illuminating means, and the ro- Fig. 3 is a Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Oct, 19,191 I Application filed April19, 1915. Serial No. 22,258. 1

of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 at View in ersp v of the cylinder removed from the-casing Fig. 5 is, a sectional view-of the controlling means positioned at the drivers seat.

Referring more particularly to'the draw-f rings, wherein like characters of reference des gnate corresponding parts throu hout the several views-1- isa suitable 'tu l)ularcasing formed with a longitudinal opening 2 and preferably provided with a socket'3 i for the reception'of the end of a supporting bracket 4 which is retained in the socket by the set screw 5. Suitable transparent Ina- 1 terial 6 is adapted.' 'to cover the openingfl and the same is received at, its edges in guides 7 surrounding .theopening. p g i The ends of the casing are adapted tube closed by the removable endmembers 8 and-TI 9 which frictionally engage the ends of the casing, and the member 8' is provided-cell: trally with a tubular supporting member 10 open at its ends and which. eXtends:1ongi-1 tudinally centrally with the casing, as in Fig. 2. An insulating tube 11 is, positioned.

within the supporting member 10 and exs tends for a portion of the length thereof, and at one end opens exterior-1y of. the member 8 and at its opposite end extends through an opening in the member 10 which carries a lamp socket in rear of the opening 2. Suitable electrical connections 12 exfromany suitable source to a lamp 13. a

. A slight distance within the free end of the supporting member 10 is positioned a J threaded bushing 14 held stationary by a set screw 15 and rotatably mounted in the end of said support is a tubular stub shaft 16 which extends through the end 17 of a tubular shell 18 of substantially the same length and diameter'as the casing 1. The shell is formed on its surface with suitable cut out portions 19 which are adapted for v I, registering with the opening 2. and are in;

dicative of the direction of travel or turning' of the vehicle, namely, the word stop, two

' arrows, one pointing in each direction horizontally which indicate the direction of turn the vehicle is to make, and one 0 en s" ace denoting that the vehicle driver inten s continue the vehicle in the direction it is now. Within the tubular shell is traveling. I adapted tobe ositioned a sheet of opaque material 20 W ich lies against the inner v in register with a slot22 formed in the casing above the cut out 2, and at one side of which is preferably positioned a license plate '23. carried by a bracket 24. A screw 25 extends through the' end member 9 through the stub shaft 16 and into the bushing 14 and retains the shell in position to rotate about the supporting member 10.

i The shell is rotated in the casing by the following mechanism: On the outer end of the stub'shaft 16 is formed a gear 26 which intermeshes with a suitable beveled gear 27 carried on the end of a flexible shaft 28 which extends through a bearing 29 carried by the member 9. The shaft 28 extends through an opening in the side of the end member 9 into a casing 30 and through a bearing 31 therein. The casing 30 is preferably positioned on the vehicle adjacent 'to the driver and has a removable cover provided with indications corresponding to those formed by the cut out portions 19 on the shell. Mounted on a shaft 33 extending ,through the cover'and into a bearing 34 is the operating means cause the shell to rotate a beveled gear 35 which inter-meshes with a corresponding gear 36.0n the shaft 28. An operating handle 37 is carried by the shaft 33 and the same provides a means to register with the indications on the cover to designate which of the cut outs 19 of the shell is in register with the opening 2 in the casing 1. 'A flexible protecting tube or casing 28 surrounds the shaft 28 for its full length and is detachably secured at opposite ends in the casing 1 and 30.

It will be observed that a one-quarter turn ofthe handle 37 relative to the cover 32, and

from one indication to another will through a one-quarter turn with'the casing and present a new indication to the opening in the casing. The course of the vehicle will be readily indicated during the day, and at night .the illumination within the shell will cause the different indications in the shell to be presented in different colors as they registwo' subscribing witnesses.

ter with the opening in the casing and will cause the license number to be illuminated.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. An indicator for vehicles comprising an open ended tubular casing having an aperture in its side wall, removable end members for closing the ends of said casing, a. tubular supporting shaft carried by one of said end members, a tubular shell rotatably mounted in said casing and formed at its surface with apertures adapted on the rotation thereof to register with the aperture of the casing, a tubular stub shaft carried by the closed end of said shell for reception in one end of said end tubular supporting shaft, a gear on one and extending into said casing, a threaded bushing carried by the free end of said shaft, a tubular shell rotatably mounted in said casing, said shell being open at one end and inclosing said shaft, and formed on its surface with apertures adapted on the rotation thereof to register with the apertures in the casing, a tubular stub shaft carried by said closed end of said shell, for reception in the open end of said supporting shaft, a gear carried by the outer end of said stub shaft, and operating means carried by the other end of said members and cooperating with said gear, and a securing means extending through said last mentioned member and through said tubular stub shaft into said threaded bushing for securing said members in place.

In testimony whereof .I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of .JACKSON F. FRAZEE. Witnesses:

HARRY A. ToT'rEN, D. BrRIoHAnos. 

